Contents

Current version

Source code (and build instructions for supported platforms) can be found on the Bitcoin GitHub page.

Features

Most popular software implementation of a bitcoin full node. Provides trustless validation that all of bitcoin's consensus rules are being followed.

Has an RPC interface allowing developers to interface with Core and access the bitcoin currency trustlessly.

Has a GUI frontend, Bitcoin-Qt, allowing ordinary users to use bitcoin with full validation.

Compatibility with Linux (both GNOME and KDE), Mac OS X and Windows

All functionality of the original wxWidgets client

Asks for confirmation before sending coins

CSV export of transactions

Clearer transaction list with status icons and real-time filtering

Progress bar on initial block download

Languages: Dutch, English, German, Chinese and many more. Translations are being done by volunteers on Transifex.

Sendmany support in UI (send to multiple recipients in one transaction)

Multiple unit support, can show subdivided bitcoins (mBTC, µBTC) for users that like large numbers (only decimal units)

Splash screen that details progress

Debug window

Payment requests (BIP 70)

Coin control

Naming Controversy

Some people like Peter Todd, Luke-jr and Greg Maxwell warned against the renaming to Bitcoin Core because it implied a centralization.[4][5][6].

Bitcoin Core right now may be the most popular or "reference" full node implementation, but that status depends on the economic majority continuing to use it[7]. Should one day come where another implementation overtakes it economically, that implementation would become the reference implementation. In one situation in 2017 significant parts of the economy moved to the BIP148 UASF implementation[8] and then moved back to Core after BIP148 was successful. The point here is that Bitcoin Core does not control bitcoin and the naming "Core" is misleading in that respect.

On the other hand, many people are happy with the name Bitcoin Core and continue to use it. As long as it's emphasized that Bitcoin Core is just one possible software implementation of bitcoin that people are free to use or not use.